Carla Badiali retrospective at M77 Gallery in Milan

M77 Gallery in Milan hosts a major retrospective of Carla Badiali (1907–1992), a key figure of the Como abstract group. Titled 'Geometria e poesia' and curated by Luigi Cavadini, the show spans from the mid-1920s to the 1980s, featuring over sixty works including paintings, drawings, and collages. The exhibition traces Badiali's evolution from early figurative works, such as the 1926 pastel self-portrait, to geometric abstraction in the 1930s, exemplified by 'Composizione n. 12' (1935–36) and 'Composizione in rosa n. 152' (1938), the latter shown at the 1942 Venice Biennale in the Futurism room. A cycle titled 'Le vent se lève' from the early 1940s reflects her musical background and Kandinsky's influence. During World War II, Badiali suffered personal losses and collaborated with the Resistance by forging documents, enduring imprisonment at Milan's 'Villa Triste'. After a difficult postwar period, she resumed painting in the 1960s, participating in the 1966 Venice Biennale and working as a textile designer. The upper floor presents her later collages and a section on the Como abstract movement, with works by Mario Radice, Manlio Rho, and Carla Prina.